April 2006

steveo3002

i run a set of steel wheels during the winter to save my nice alloys..ive noticed the michelins i have on there are cracking due to old age i guess

anyway they'l soon need replacing. are remoulds worth thinking about? they dont have to look sexy or give race car handling..i may even consider a winter tyre
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Lud

Only blowout I ever had wasn't a remould but a Michelin X, fairly well worn... never did work out what had happened. It certainly wasn't underinflated at the beginning of the journey anyway.

The OP asked: are remoulds rubbish?

Vicky Pollard has the answer: yeah but no but...

The rest is mere detail.

johnlucky

I'm due to have my Audi A3 serviced - it is 2 years old. I will use Audi service garage for this but, given it is two years old, they are recommending changing the brake fluid which would add £90 to the price (!). Is it very easy to change the brake fluid - surely it is a matter of topping it up? Is anything I should be aware of?

Many thanks

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L'escargot

And dont give me this "its hydroscopic" rubbish either, I bet
no one has had brake failure caused by localised fluid boiling.


Not even when descending Alpine passes? This aspect aside, moisture in the brake fluid leads to internal corrosion.


--
L\'escargot.
carman

Hi all

Can anyone recommend a suitable alternative to the VW washer fluid (G 052 164) for VWs with the 'fan shaped' washer jets?

Thanks Read more

AlanGowdy

The standard cheaper Halfords stuff, in the bigger containers, is now
also available as lemon scented and also claims to contain the
vital water softeners. I'm using that now.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.


Excellent - I'll get some on the way home.
rip

My colleges vw polo 1996 1.4 petrol

Next problem is horn is not functioning.

Apparently it was fine until he lent to someone and its stopped since.

Any ideas as to the cause

many thanks
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Micheael

Your car’s horn is a safety feature built into the car to help get others drivers attention if they start to get into your lane, or in other situations to warn people around you of your presence to prevent wrecks or injury.

This is why it is important for you to have a functioning horn. Sometimes though your horn may stop working. Normally there are a few possible problems if this happens. Continue reading to learn what these problems are and also solutions for them.
www.autoguysland.com/car-horn-not-working/

nextcar?

Have noticed quite a few comments on forums concerning the reliability of Alfa Romeo Cam belts (in particular the cam belt tensioners) failing on Alfa 164?s and 156?s, well before their scheduled replacement (72K).

I have an Alfa 156 (3 ½ years old) that has covered 63K and bang went the cam belt a couple of weeks ago. Now facing a large bill to rebuild the engine. Car has been looked after and serviced on a regular basis.

A dealership near me kindly told me to contact Alfa UK based on a technical service bulletin they issued in September 2002. The bulletin (it is alleged) reported a problem with the cam belt tensioners which were failing on 156?s well before 72K.


To be honest I would normally take this on the Chin and say bad luck. However I am steaming that if Alfa know there is a problem with this component then they should at least send an advisory notice to customers to this effect. I contacted three dealerships who all tell me that I should have changed the cam belt between 50-60K.

Has anyone had a similar experience recently?

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BazzaBear {P}

had the belt that
went recently checked as it reached 37k miles by an Alfa
trained technician and it was cleared.
I will still pursue Alfa for supplying parts not fit for
purpose, especially one so critical. And of course the people who
carried out the interim service.

I don't see a part which isn't fit for purpose. I would think if anything you have comeback against the Alfa technician who said it was all fine, when in fact it clearly (according to the service schedule as well) required replacement.
Where was this Alfa technician? At an Alfa dealer, or an independant? And has it been recorded anywhere that he OKed it?
KenC

My Mk.4 Golf is approaching 4 years old,I am expecting a headlamp bulb to fail soon, I know access is a potential NIGHTMARE.I have read an article claiming that bulb changes can be performed without too much fuss using a pair of "curved forceps". has anyone any experience or tips ?
thanks
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547HEW

Ken,

Remove battery COVER, not battery. The cover just unclips. Of course, it is possible that not all models of Mk IV have a battery cover as original equipment.

bobda

I've suddenly developed a new noise when the car is under load (ie - not at idle) at around 1500-2300 rpm.

Where I used to get a hint of turbo whistle, I now get a noise which can only be described as a whirring/whooshing noise. It sounds like something spinning and it only does it when accelerating, and stops as gradually as it starts.

It's only started in the last day and the performance doesn't appear to have altered much, although (and it may just be my imagination) the turbo doesn't seem to be following itself through on gear changes as much as it used to and the engine appears to run on for a fraction of a second longer after I flick the key off.

What could it be? I'm almost certain it's something in the turbo area, but I'm not well versed on the workings of turbos, so I don't really know what to look for.

It's a 2002 S40 1.9 TDCi which has done 61000 miles with a remap at 60000 (if that makes any difference). Read more

bobda

It wasn't edited. You upset the swear filter and it nuked
your reply. Mild expletives only get partially deleted, but more "hard
core" expletives get totally obliterated.


Aaah, I see. I recall there being a very mild expletive in there!

Thanks for clearing it up.
hefty

Hi! Can anybody tell me a typical pump price of a litre of unleaded price around 1977/8? Thanks. Read more

L'escargot

>> Sadly I can recall £1 buying 4 gallons .......
Me too. About 1965 I think.


And you got your full money's worth of lead. The diagonal "end of speed limit" sign meant exactly that. Breathalysers hadn't been thought of, nor had exhaust emissions and you weren't a social pariah just because you smoked Capstan Full Strength in public. I'm just pleased that I am old enough to have experienced the good old days.
--
L\'escargot.
fishy-steve

I've got a 2.0ltr 16 valve ecotec engine with a top end engine rattle. Sounds to me like a tappet. How come??? Can you get this with hydraulic tappets?
Cheers,
Fishy-steve. Read more

fishy-steve

Hi all, thanks for the replies.
The noise is considerably louder on start up and gets quieter as the engine warms up. Then there is a faint ticking sound which gets worse when you blip the throttle. Hope you get my drift.
The oil was last changed 12000 miles ago so its well overdue. I'll change the oil and filter and put some engine treatment in and see if that helps.
As for the exhaust that was the first thing I checked. Its not blowing and all looks well there.

Cheers,
Steve

LHM

I'll be doing a bit of DIY on the rear of my car, and it would be convenient to leave the rear bumper off whilst continuing to drive the car.

Will I be contravening the Construction and Use regulations in any way? Neither the number plate nor any lights are incorporated in the bumper, by the way.

What about the insurance situation should I be hit from behind? It might be claimed that any resulting damage would have been less had the bumper been fitted. Read more

ziggy

Will there be two remaning rusty sharp screws
'to attract pedestrians shins like magnets'..?